England captain David Beckham has dismissed claims of a rift in the squad caused by card schools and other gambling debts - and insists the only card game he plays is snap.

There were reports of a fall-out between England strike pairing Wayne Rooney
and Michael Owen over the former's alleged gambling debts of £700,000 to a
bookmaker friend of the Newcastle forward.

However, Beckham believes there is no problem in the England set-up.

'The banter and the togetherness of the England team is too strong to be
affected by card schools,' he said.

'In our squad it's impossible for the players to fall out over something like
that. There have always been card schools in football, but there is no problem
and there never has been.

'The team spirit is the best since I started playing for my country.'

Speaking specifically about the reported rift between Rooney and Owen, Beckham
added: 'People were saying there was an issue between Michael and Wayne, but
it's just because they are the two main centre-forwards that people want to say
that.'

Beckham revealed he is not much of a gambler himself, and said: 'I like going
horse racing sometimes just for a day out, but I have never been a card man in
my life. The only thing I've played is snap.'